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Show Openings 1988 Sports Page Two FOOTBALL Ufts fcottlball may capitalize on h-!Xsff schedule, revamped defense By Kent Condon Chronicle sports editor ranked 101st in the nation. In an effort to strengthen the sore defense, the Ute coaching staff was busy in the offLast year University of Utah head footseason hoping to find a cure. Changes were football coach Jim Fassel introduced the J made. The biggest change involved moving ball public to a few of his friends-Daf- fy, inside linebacker Frank Bonifacio to outDonald and Daisy Duck. side linebacker and moving Garland Harris No, not the animated critters you see on to the inside backer spot television or at the movies. They were a "Frank is bigger and plays more physiset of new plays for his already explosive cally and can take on the tight end easioffense. er," Fassel said. "A middle linebacker And although these plays didn't domineeds to be able to flow quickly to either nate the Ute offensive scheme, they were side, plus he needs to cover the pass. enough to capture the attention and imag- Garland is more mobile and will be ination of the whole country. quicker in the middle." "Duck" the Another interesting change made durformations Unfortunately, and a 8 victory over Wisconsin in ing spring ball was the move of senior Madison were about the only things wor- fullback Molonai Hola to linebacker. Fassel was pleased with Hola's progress thy of attention from last year's team. But that was last year. during spring drills and feels Hola will The fall of 1988 is upon us and with it help solidify the defensive corps. On the other side of the ball, Utah should comes the anticipation of a more successful season for the Utes. The "Duck" will again be among the nations leaders. Last return, as will the nucleus of a powerful year's squad ranked 12th in the country in offensive attack. overall offense and third in passing. With e Back will be runthe return of Johnson and fullback Bryan Bero in the backfield, the Utes should conback Eddie and be will a in Johnson ning talented lot of young defensive players to tinue to rack up the yards. Johnson injured his knee in the second help bolster the sagging Utah defense. "I'm excited about all our new guys," an game of the season last year at San Diego optimistic Fassel said. "Overall it is by far State but was granted another year of elithe best group of defensive players we gibility by the NCAA. Johnson thinks he have ever signed. We're still going to be " is back to 95 percent of his ability. "Heck no," Johnson responded when relatively young defensively, but we will be more experienced and our depth asked if he was leery about returning to should the field after the injury. "I'm ready to really help us. ' "The number one priority on defense is to go. I was out catching the ball the other build confidence in pur players," Fassel day and I had to slow down because I continued. 'Tom Gadd (defensive coordinawas doing too much cutting. But I feel I and saw excellent done has an tor) job good." Gone from last year's team, however, some good improvements in spring ball " The. Ute defense must improve if it is will be Utah's leading rusher in 1987, hoping to compete for the WAC crown. Martel Black; Black's career at the U. Last year's "D" gave up an average of 30 ended after he was arrested on charges of points and 476 yards per game and was distribution or possession with intent to 31-2- All-WA- C two-tim- BYU, UTEP, Falcons will top WAC, others to fight for respect If Utah's defense is to climb but of the performance cellar, it will have to be jump- started by key players such as defensive back Greg Smith. distribute a controlled substance. "If sophomore running back Cliff Smith can build on his freshman year where he led the Utes in running, the be able to should offensive machine Utah ' attack from every angle. One of those angles will come from ' sophomore quarterback Scott MitchelL z If Utah can avoid the injury bug, he feels the team has as good a chance as any team to win the conference. ...;v all-purpo- .s I rQ?s . se .wj. a a- k- i - "A lot of guys really want to win." Mitchell continued. "The team atti- tude should be a big strength for us' this yeart We should be more sound defensively and should surprise some 'v people." With a favorable schedule-o- ne that Air BYU Force and the to brings friendly i 0 confines of Rice Stadium-- a sea ' son would really be the only surprise for .o , this year's Utes. sub-.50- f . r:: 7jTTT I y v- - - rp - By Dirk Facer Chronicle assistant sports editor The WAC will be for an encore to last performance. For the first time in n conference history the WAC sent three teams to bowl games. Wyoming visited the Holiday Bowl, BYU participated Bowl and Air Force garnered a in the berth in the Freedom Bowl. Who cares if they all lost? This season the WAC race is expected to be a duel between BYU, UTEP and Air season's hard-presse- d record-settin- g post-seaso- All-Americ- an Force. Defending WAC champion Wyoming needs to recover from some heavy losses at the skill positions and will probably hot repeat. The rest of the WAC, including Utah, is expected to compete for respectability, rather than unlikely bowl bids. The WAC skywriters recently picked the Utes to finish seventh. But if history means anything, then this fall will prove to be as wild and unpredictable as an earthquake. After all, who picked Wyoming to win the WAC last year? Below is a capsule report on each of the schools in the WAC. Utah football is reviewed in a related story by Chronicle sports editor Kent Condon. BRIGHAM YOUNG COUGARS ( 7-- 9-- 4 ) Like it or not, BYU is the best team in the WAC this year. Once again Lavell Edwards has assembled another quality football team. Last season the Cougars missed a trip to the Holiday Bowl after losing to Wyoming on a broken play that resulted in a two-poiconversion. However, the Coogs 4,' fv P,: - I Wr y k- - V1 v V- I - 1, nt still garnered a post-seaso- n invitation to the All-Americ- an Bowl, wnere they lost to Virginia 22-1Wide receiver Chuck Cutler returns from surgery on candihis hands and is expected to be an date. Running back Matt Bellini teams with quarterback Sean Covey to give BYU some additional offensive firepower that has lacked since the last Cougar title team in 1985. The defense will be anchored by performers Troy Long and Rodney Rice. The only question mark on this team is at linebacker.. With three starting backers gone, the Coogs will certain-6. All-Americ- an All-WA- C mmMm :....tt.- - Almost everyone, including Utah, broke free from Colorado State last year. The Rams, shown here trying to down Eddie back will to on last Johnson, 7 dismal running try improve mark in the WAC year's WAC play, the Miners were still in the Holiday Bowl ly be tested there by their opponents. is start a as BYU will five However, quick race. However, UTEP lost those last two games. BYU and anticipated play of its first six games at home. The team will finish the season Wyoming both recorded wins in the Sun Bowl to bring a in Florida against Miami, the defending national champions. Sense of rfialitv tn Minpr fnnthnll fane TEXAS-E4 PASO MINERS ( ) UTEP will challenge BYU this year, but overtaking the The Miners are much improved from their past efforts. Cougars will take a miracle. DesDite this eloomv fore Since the WAC was formed 26 years ago, UTEP owns a cast, the Miners will still record an impressive overall 5 record. In fact over the last five years the woeful record. Thanks in large part to some easy Miners sport the WAC's worst mark at games with Mankato State, Weber State, Tulsa and New But a funny thing happened last year, the Miners finalMexico State. to how learned final win. the weeks two of Entering ly see "WAC on sports - page three 1-- . " L 5-- 3, 7-- 27-11- non-conferen- 9-3- ce 1. ;' |
